France: Information on the residence status reinstatement requirements for a Zairian national married in France to a French citizen, whose children are French nationals born in France, and who voluntarily relinquished 10-year residence status in France in order to take up residence in another European Economic Community (EEC) country, on whether such a request could be processed at a French mission abroad or only in France, on the requirements for the Zairian spouse to obtain a visitors' visa to enter France, and on the requirements for her to obtain French citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | FRA27725.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, France: Information on the residence status reinstatement requirements for a Zairian national married in France to a French citizen, whose children are French nationals born in France, and who voluntarily relinquished 10-year residence status in France in order to take up residence in another European Economic Community (EEC) country, on whether such a request could be processed at a French mission abroad or only in France, on the requirements for the Zairian spouse to obtain a visitors' visa to enter France, and on the requirements for her to obtain French citizenship, 1 September 1997, FRA27725.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abff84.html [accessed 18 October 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 2 September 1997 telephone interview, the director of the French Office des migrations internationales (OMI) in Montreal, the organization responsible for implementing government policies regarding the entry for foreigners to France and their access to the job market, stated that all requests for residence status can only be processed in France through the Ministry of the Interior. This information was corroborated by a representative of the Embassy of France in Ottawa during a 9 September 1997 telephone interview.
The representative of the Embassy of France stated that in order to obtain a visa to enter France, the Zairian spouse must show proof that not only she is married to a French citizen (marriage certificate), but that she is still cohabiting with him. An income statement or proof of a financial support sponsorship (attestation de prise en charge) are required to guarantee her autonomy during her stay in France. The representative of the Embassy of France added that an application for a visa can be processed at any French mission abroad.
For information on the requirements for the Zairian spouse to obtain French nationality, please refer to the March 1997 Council of Europe attachment, especially page 60 where it states that "French nationality may be acquired on the grounds of marriage within 2 years of the date of the marriage provided that the spouses are still cohabiting. There is no deadline if the couple has a child (Article 21-2 of the Civil Code.)".
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Embassy of France, Ottawa. 9 September 1997. Telephone interview with a representative.
Office des migrations international (OMI), Québec delegation, Montréal. 2 September 1997. Telephone interview with director.
Attachment
Council of Europe. March 1997. European Bulletin on Nationality. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, pp. 59-65.
